The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-07-13
feelings when I was informed that Gen.

-uCterly repuulaleu me. NJ oSthlou0
and company were dozen miles away,
and I felt that it would be useless to ask
further delay. In ten minutes l was
found guilty, and sentenced to execution
at sunrise, and before midnight a scaffold
had been prepared. :,
WHY had Gen.-denicd my identityl
The only excuse I could offer for him was
that he was drunk when the Messenger
reached him, and such proved to be the
case. Reused from his stupid sleep, ne
had winked and blinked at the com
munication and made out portion OF II,
and then flung it down with the assertion
that he knew no one of my name. Inc
pallows was erected within few rods OF
where was confined. Some beams and
boards were taken from an abandoned
house. and the structure was very rude
affair. I could plainly hear every blow
struck, and the fellows engaged in put
ting it up seemed to want me to overhear
their unfccling remarks. About an hour
before daylight a curious change took
place in me. 1 began to wonder if was
really the man l claimed to be, and 1t
wasn't fifteen minutes before had come
to the conclusion that was some one
else-in fact, confederate spy, as they
declared. This idea took such firm
lodgment in my mind that I would have
honestly denied my real identity. I felt
that had been fairly tried and honestly
convicted, and that I ought to suffer
death. There was no particular terror in
the idea. The only thought about hang
ing which made me cringe was the fall
through the trap. 1t seemed to me as
reflected on it that the pain would be
something awful, but was consoled at
the same time with the reflection that it
would soon be over.
Halt an hour before sunrise was
brought out and escorted to the foot of
the gallows. If remember right there
was about half company of infantry on
the ground. Only few of the soldiers
in camp were out to witness the pro-
ceedings. They had graciously provided
me with spiritual conso ation in the pres
ence of chaplain, but, though the good
man talked to me for ten minutes, l did
not hear one word in twenty he uttered.
| was all the time wondering how long
before it would be over, and every
minute of delay made me impatient.
When the time came for me to mount the
scaffold 1 was really glad Of it. There
was nothing in the sight of the dangling
rope to chill me. I took my place on the
trap, the chaplain uttered prayer, and
then a soldier quickly tied my elbows
and ankles and pulled cap over my
head It was matter of seconds now,
and I said to myself:
cit is coming now-good-by to all-lt
will soon be over"
They had to cut rope underneath to
spring the trap. My sense of hearing was
50 acute that located the man who
stood with an axe ready to do his service
at a given signal, and l heard him
whisper to himself:
"Why, in Gods name, do they keep
the man so long in suspense"
"Then began to count one-two-
three, and so on, and had got up to nine,
when l heard shouting not far away,
and mingled with it the sound of horses
coming at gallop.
Don't cut that roper commanded
the officer in charge, and 1 said to my
self
Something has gone wrong, and there
will be a further delay. Perhaps am to
be shot. That would be an easier way
to die.''
There was some loud talk around me,
two or three people came up the ladder
to the platform. and directly a hand
pulled the cap off my head and voice
said:
Captain, there is some terrible mistake
here. This is Roberts, one of my scouts"
':But you did not know him last
night?' -
II know him now, and you will release
him at once"
1t was Gen. --. AS he awoke from
his drunken sleep at an early hour dim
remembrance of the message crept into
his mind, and he rolled out of bed and
found the inquiry sent by the court
martial. He could not remember what
word he had sent in reply, but he jumped
into his clothes and then into the saddle,
and he came just in time to prevent
military murder. What was the effect
of this close call2 Well, I went to the
hospital for two weeks with fever, and
it was full month before l was posi-.
lively certain of my identity.-NeW York
Sun.